Seagrass biochemical response to transplantation into contaminated sediments: A mesocosm experiment

Efforts to remediate and restore degraded ecosystems through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have intensified during the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). To evaluate the potential of seagrass transplantation for recovering historically contaminated areas, a mesocosm experiment was performed with the following objectives: 1) assess the suitability of the transplant method; 2) evaluate the tolerance of Zostera noltei to different concentrations of metal(loid)s in sediments; 3) clarify the tolerance mechanisms and measure oxidative stress levels and energy budget across different tissues and sampling times; and 4) investigate its potential as a Nature-based Solution. Results demonstrated that seagrass could tolerate various concentrations of metal(loid)s in sediments and activate mechanisms to reduce oxidative stress, without interfering with its growth and seasonal life cycle. The use of Zostera noltei as a NbS for remediating, restoring, and rehabilitating historically contaminated areas was validated and appears to be a promising approach.